University of Louisville
Toledo
Cardinal Baseball Wins Fifth Straight
March 13, 2001 | Baseball
March 13, 2001
Josh Ring notched his second consecutive complete game victory, pitching the Louisville Cardinal baseball team to a 9-6 victory over Toledo on a blustery Tuesday afternoon. Louisville(13-9) has now won five straight, seven of its last eight and is 12-3 at Cardinal Stadium this year.
Ring(2-1) gave up six runs, five of which were earned, on twelve hits, while striking out a career high 10 Rockets in his nine innings. He is now tied for the team lead in complete games with two in his only starts of the year. His 26 strikeouts in 32.2 innings is tops on the squad, and he has four saves to pace the Cardinal pitching staff.
The offense opened with a six-run first inning to jump on top 6-0. The first six batters of the frame reached on five hits and a walk and scored runs. Third baseman Mike Budak smacked his team leading 10th double to right center, driving in his 24th and 25th runs of the year, also leading the Cards.
Toledo(3-8) starter Ian Baltzer(0-1) failed to retire a batter in his first start of the season, getting touched for five runs on four hits and a walk while taking the loss. Four of the runs were earned.
The Rockets managed a run in the fourth when shortstop J.D. Foust singled home first baseman Phil Pilewski. Louisville answered with three in the bottom of the frame when outfielder Bill Gatti Jr. singled home two runs and later scored on an error, making it 9-1.
Toledo scratched its way back with single runs in the fifth and sixth, and looked to make things interesting with a three spot in the eighth. With one out and the score 9-6, Ring ended the threat with a fly ball out and one of his 10 K's.
Gatti was 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs to pace the Cardinal offense. He is hitting .438 with all 18 of his RBI at home and .348 overall. Second baseman Matt Jarboe, outfielder Dave Williams Jr. and shortstop Adam Haley each had two hits on the afternoon. Louisville is hitting .300 as a team on the season.
The Cardinals will wrap up the midweek set with Toledo Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium before heading to Cincinnati to open the conference season against the Bearcats for a three-game series over the weekend.
